sportsfan925

No disrespect to Schiavone, I always liked her, but I just see her getting clobbered by Stosur...perhaps 6-2 6-2...Francesca has consistent topspin groundstrokes, especially sutiable for clay, but agaisnt the power of Samantha, I just dont know....do u think it will be competitive, and what do you think the final score will be...and why?

So much speculation, talk, and verbal interest by Oswalt to be traded, but where do u think he will end up and why? Which team do you think he would fit best?

I am thinking Mets, Nationals, Cards, Diamondbacks, and even the much improved Padres SP staff....that is, if he leaves at all....Mets could no doubt use him to their struggling pitching staff, and with their offense, once it gets in a continuous, consistent flow, should contend with Philly....Natonals dont only have a respectable pitching staff already but when Stasburg comes up finally, if they can get another awesome arm, and bat, might be there at the end....Padres more so need power in their line up but another arm surely wouldnt hurt their dominance....thing is Oswalt needs to stay in NL....thoughts?

Puh lease...now tell me she isn't over rated! Been saying this for 2 years....she had one good season, and despite injuries, is steadily falling...now to a 39 year old ( Gooooo Date Krumm!! ), and on her fav surface.....while I personally dont reaslly like Safina, especially when she was "#1" and felt she should be...and THAT was a gift, being Henin retired, Cjlisters retired, and Williams Sisters were injured....# 1 players dont lose as she has, and the way she continues to....thing is, do u see her rebounding anytime soon? Especially with Wimbledon and US on the way??

Is it me, or can this young woman rip the ball OMG....she looks to have such fierce groundstrokes, power, as much as The Williams Sisters, Dementieva, Stosur, Cljisters.....I have watched her a few times recently, and despite appearing as a go for broke type player, she has immense power....only could use some more patience however....do u think she can get to Venus in The Final, as well as gong deep at The French and can she reach the top 10? ( she isn't too far behind )

Rank the following as you feel is the most surprising thus far this young season, and explain why.

Tampa Rays quick start/best record

Bostons struggles and 11-14 record

Padres SP

Rangers SP

Kelly Johnson

Jimenez

Lirianos successful return/start

Josh Beckett HUGE ERA

The competitive AL West

Giants leading MLB in TBA

Diamondbacks leading with 37HRs

Ty Wigginton

As a fan, and being a fan, I can also be honest without always putting them, a fav team on a pedastal, but they are going byebye awfully quick....this has been less than a medicore season...despite injuries, this blend of mates never quite geled, defensive is medicore, at best, and they can not only beat playoff contending teams, but have difficulty beating teams worse then them...can't enter playoffs losing to teams u should beat( Nets, Grizzlies)....odds are they will get Lakers in first round, and with a 7 game series anything can happen, but realistically, its a cya moment....do u think no matter who Spurs play, that they can win at least one series? Why, why not?

Its early in the season, May far away....but as much as I love Duncan & The Spurs, I cant help think/feel, that this is going to be a very disappointing season for this team.....chemistry or no chemistry....you cant succeed if you dont rebound enough, get on those boards, and get second chances, as well as turning the ball over, and not making free throws.....it spells disaster....their D is NOT the same, and well the list goes on.....Think by playoff time, they will get it going as a unit/team?? thoughts?

I like how Yanks are determined to win this with there 3 SP only, but has there ever been a situation or is it allowed, to have 3 pitchers pitch each game of a series, say for 3 innings each? Not a bad idea. This way no tonly throw off your opponents every 3 innings but keep your 3 biggest arms "fresh", so they can pitch each game, and not worry about days rest inbetween, pitches thrown etc. Has this ever happened? Your thoughts on this idea?

I really dont mean this in a rude, harsh, way...and if anything I always liked her for the last 10 plus years and even figured she could do betetr as she has through out her career....but....the more I watch her, and this weekend at The Kremlin Cup, I cant help but look at her and think of a combination of Navritilova and the wicked wicth from wizard of Oz....does anyone else "see" where I am coming from? I do hope she beats Govotosova.

The guy is leading the league in ERA, with a 2.14, 2nd in K's, and 14 wins, 3 behind CC, on a pitiful team. He could finish with 18-19 wins, with 8 losses, but forget losses. he has been dominant more so then not. The award is supposed to be given to the top dog, not who pitches better for a more successful team. Especially if he wins out, with the remaining games, no doubt this guy has to be a leading candidate, and perhaps one of the contending teams, or then contending team, Texas, should have tried to grab him. Thoughts? If not thinking he should be leading candidate, then who do you think and why??

How can it be that Kim does not have a ranking, let alone inside top 50 with her OPEN win? It was said that a player needs to play 3 tournaments before receiving a ranking. The Open was her third, and her record I believe is 15-2 during the 3 tournaments. Plus by winning it she receives over 1000 points and that automatically puts her at #60, at least. Plus with all the points she earned beating other top ranked players, above her, even in her first 2 tournaments. Anyone know why she isnt ranked yet?

With Vania King upsetting Stosur, and Bammer losing in first round, do you think Serena will have an easier time now? She lost to Bammer a couple weeks ago despite not feeling well, hurting, and stosur has a huge huge game and beat Serena as well. She was to face Bammer in 3rd round and stosur in 4th. Seems things got a bit easier now for her...I would hope. Thoughts?

King beat Stosur! How the heck? I thought Stosur woud demolish the WTT star. A total shocker. I thought sam would go far with that huge serve and groundstrokes. Did anyone see the match? Things just got a bit easier for my girl Serena. =). Do you think Vania will finally start go deeper into tourneys or was this a fluke win?

Someone please explain, thoroughly, as to why teams are STILL acquiring players, if the trade deadline was weeks ago? I dont get it. How are teams still allowed as the season winds down to get players now? Why have a deadline then?

Is she just desperate to keep her top ranking, and add every lil point against players ranked 40-70 spots below her? No other top player entered this event, which shows yet again where her confidence level actually is. she has yet to beat the top players consistently, mainly The Wiliams Sisters ( Grand slam results show it all ), and she decides to participate in a small tourney as this? Too funny. Thoughts on why you think she is playing there?

I mean come on. I knwo some Safina fans cant admit to it, but she most certainly isnt #1 material, and losing 6-1 6-0 in a grand slam semi further proves it. Forget Venus being so dominat on grass, a #1 doesnt lose this way,and finds ways to win, at least points/games. Just 6 winners but 16 unforced errors no aces, compared to Venus at 5 aces, 16 winners, and just 1 unforced. I mean hello?! Only due to Safinas great play in 2008 is she where she is now. She is top 10 at best, and slowly will fall as Jankovic did when she was given the top spot. The 2 best players out there, and who dont need to play 20-27 tournaments to keep their ranking is clearly Serena and Venus. Safina didnt even win a match against the top 8 at the Season Ending Championships last season. I put her behind Serena, Venus, Elena, and Kuznetsova, and even possibly a couple others. Enough said. Thoughts?

Ok, so now 3 of the womens quarters are over with.....ESPN took live coverage off the air, and NBC has started their coverage...but showign the 3rd set of Safina/Lisicki match instead of live coverage of Serena vs Azarenka, clealry the best quarter match. I mean what it this all about? They do this ALL the time, and clearly fed up with it. At least TC should show it, instead of a taped WTT match. Who agrees? Thoughts?

Ok, I am so sick of hearing hos long england has waited to crown a champion. First, Murray is NOT a true Brit. Hes from Scotland, but being they are so desperate for a champ, adopted him. The country isnt actually big on sports/athletes, and perhaps need to do something about it instead of adopting athletes from nearby countries. Cricket, polo, just dont cut it enough, and if they want to produce tennis stars, and other major sports, then get out there and learn, perform. Even Sudeski ( Greg) was from Canada, but they took him into their hearts in hope.Thoughts?

Both the mens and womens draw, prove to be tricky for the top players, and favorites, from what I see. Just wondering what you all think? For instance, with the women:

I see Kuz against Britains own Keothovong who plays well on grass in 3rd round, and Kuz cant play well on grass, so potential upset here.

Serena vs safarova in 2nd round could prove tricky. Though Serena should win it, she hasnt played a grass warmup, and safarova is a very dangerous player on all surfaces.

Despite her fall, Vaidisova can make a bit of noise knocking out Safina who doesnt fair well on the surface.

Venus could be mathced up against Makorova who plays extremely well on grass. Williams should get the V, but ya never know.

More interesting, I suppose is the potential match ups with Dementieva and up and comer Wickmayer, as well with the side of draw that has Zvonereva goign up against either Wozniak or Razzano the spoiler. Even a bit more interesting is the Azarenka-Groenfeld ( huge server)-Mirza-Sharapova potential matchups, especiallyMaria vs Azarenka( who I think is a future #1 with Wozniacki). Speaking of The Woz, she just won Aegon title and looks very very dangerous. Could see her in at least semis. Oh, and of course the men. There will be a few surprises of course, being grass, but Federer has to be the fav and should win, though I wouldnt be surprised if a low seed, unseeded dude pulls it out. Thoughts?

Ok, first , so how did they come up with the word darkhorse anyway?

I am going with big serving dudes like Soderling, Kohlschreiber, Ancic, Cilic, karlovic, if healthy, as well as crafty volleyers as Santoro ( I mean wasnt this surface/game originally for volleyers?). We expect Federer to go the distance, or at least The Final, or semis for that matter and make it 20 semi slams in a row. However he has proven vulnerable last couple of years and someone with a huge serve, and a decent volley/net play, can win it. Perhaps Murray, or even a Roddick....FINALLY....the women, we expect Venus to dominate on her favorite dominate surface, and if she moves her feet, then lil sis, my fav, can win. But there are some women that can make noise. Like, Bartoli, Wozniacki, Azarenka, Na Li, Zheng, Mirza ( this is her fav surface, so ), Tanasugarn ( her fav surface too), Razzano, the spolier, and even Petrova ( finally get a slam).

Who do you think are the "darkhorses"? Why?